Fabric laundry compositions



3,154,494 FABRIC LAUNDRY COMPOSITIONS Richard C. Speak, Fullerton, andPaul H. McConnell,

Glendale, Calif., assignors to United States Borax &

Chemical Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Nevada NoDrawing. Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,535

3 Claims. (Cl. 252-96) This invention relates to improved compositionsfor washing fabrics. More particularly, this invention provides amultifunctional composition which when put into a washing machinereleases the various laundry ingredients in a predetermined sequentialmanner.

The improved composition of this invention comprises an inner core of adry solid bleach and contiguous therewith an outer coating of a fabricwashing agent completely enclosing the bleach core. The inventionprovides a substantially dry stable composition in which the bleachcontent is not reduced or lost and the outer coating is not altered onstanding.

It has been recently discovered by those skilled in the art that toobtain the optimum benefit from each of the various ingredients used towash fabrics it is necessary to delay the addition of bleach to a pointpart way through the wash cycle. There are several reasons for this, onebeing that some of the solid bleaches will interfere with the cleansingaction of certain soap detergent products. Another, and very. importantreason, relates to the optical brighteners used in all present day soapand detergent products. At the start of washing when these opticalbrighteners are free in the washing solution, their effectiveness islimited by contact with bleach. If, however, they have a chance tobecome affixed to the fabrics being washed, their resistance to bleachis dramatically increased resulting in a higher level of brighteningeffectiveness. At the same time the effectiveness of the bleach ismaintained. Still another reason relates to the use of bacteriostats andbactericides in present day soap and detergent products. While it is awell-known fact that chlorine in addition to being an effective bleachalso has bactericidal properties, the bactericidal action of chlorine isshort lived and soap and detergent manufacturers have addedbacteriostats and bactericides to their products to give additionalprotection. As with the optical brighteners, the effectiveness of thebacteriostats and bactericides is limited by contact with bleach. If,however, they have a chance to go into solution and contact the fabricbeing washed before the addition of bleach, their resistance to thebleach is tremendously increased resulting in an extremely higher levelof effectiveness.

Delayed addition of bleach is not the only advantage of the presentcompositions; they also facilitate the use of theproper amount of bleachand provide ideal dilution thereby providing safety for fabrics. Stillfurther, the present invention provides a dry stable composition inwhich solid type chlorine bleaches can be used and in which theavailable chlorine content is substantially unaltered on standing andadditionally the stability of the outer coating of fabric washing agentis not impaired.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide amultifunctional laundry composition which releases the variousingredients in a predetermined sequential manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide cases, REFERENCEPatented Oct. 27, 1964 a composition which delays the addition of bleachto a washing solution while at the same time providing the proper amountof bleach with ideal dilution thereby affording maximum safety forfabrics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dry stable compositioncontaining a solid type chlorine bleach in which the available chlorinecontent remains substantially unaltered on standing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a timely additionof bleach to a washing machine without interruption of the washingcycle.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciple of the invention may be employed.

Broadly stated, the present invention comprises a composition comprisingan inner core con a substantiall dr solid bleach and contiguoustherewith and completely enclosing said core, saiTouter coatingcomprising at lawmalFed from the group consisting of wa er-soluble soas, water-soluble synthetic organic detergents, andfi'ater cong ggiromthe foregoing broadly stated paragraph, it will be seen that thecompositions of the present invention comprise two distinct portions: aninner core portion comprising a dry solid bleach, and an outer portioncompletely enclosing the bleach core comprising a fabric washing agent.In the present specification the term fabric washing agent is used todesignate soaps, synthetic organic detergents and water conditioners. Itmust be clearly understood that while the outer coating is contiguouswith and completely surrounds the inner core of bleach, the two portionsare not admixed. It is this particular combination that for the firsttime provides a way to simultaneously add all of the necessary laundryingredients while at the same time providing the solution of the laundryingredients in a sequential manner whereby maximum effectiveness of thecomponents is obtained.

The use of the present composition is simplicity itself. All that isnecessary is to drop a tablet into the washing machine, close the doorand turn on the machine. No further additions of laundry washingingredients are necessary. The outer coating starts dissolving almostimmediately in the wash water and goes completely in solution in fromabout 1 to about 5 minutes, the inner bleach core remaining intact untilthe outer coating has dissolved. Thus, the ingredients of the outercoating first go into solution, followed by solution of the blea'ch,which, as noted previously, permits the detergent, etc., and the bleachto work together more effectively in the washing solution. Further, thepresent composition permits the use of an effective bleach with safety,there being no local heavy concentration of bleach which would burn thefabric in the washing machine. Still further, the present compositionsprovide sequential solution of the necessary laundry ingredients withoutinterruption of the washing cycle.

As noted in the foregoing broadly stated paragraph, the

EXAl illllilt bleach Waves cyanuric acids 1 oroisocyanuric acid,dichloroisocyanuric acid, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, and potassiumdichloroisocyanurate, dimethyldichlorohydantoin, n-chlorosuccinimide,the oxygen bleaches such as the alkali metal mono persulfates, thealkali metal perborates, sodium hydrosulfite and the inorganic chlorinebleaches such as the alkali metal and alkaline earth hypochlorites, areall equally applicable to the present invention. In the preferredembodiment of our invention we use a solid sodium-born mull-EJ153 asdisclosed in US. Patent No. 2,977,314.

Attention is again directed to the fact that the inner core consistsessentially of a substantially dry solid bleach; however, if desired,minor amounts of innocuous materials such as a pigment (ultramarineblue), binders, etc., may be added.

Referring now to the outer coating, as noted previously,

this comprises the fabric washing agent which basically is at least onematerial selected from the group consisting of water-soluble soap,water-soluble synthetic organic detergent, and water conditioners. It isto be clearly understood that suitable additives, e.g., binders,fillers, builders,

optical brighteners, perfume, colorings, bacteriostats, etc'.', may beadded to the outer coating to provide properties regarded as desirablein any particular instance. Thus, the outer coating can consist ofsoapj'or synthetic detergent or water conditioner or any combination ofthese materials alone or in combination with the various suitableadditives. Illustrative of some of the various additives used by thoseskilled in the detergent and soap art are builders (borax, sodiumsulfate, sodium carbonate, etc.), corrosion inhibitors (sodiumsilicate), anti-redeposition agents (carboxymethyl cellulose), fabricbrighteners (fluorescent or optical pigments), perfume, fillers (talc),binders (gums, starches, dextrins), coloring, suds stabilizers andsuppressors, preservatives and bacteriostats and bactericides(trichlorocarbanilide, trichlorosalicylanilide, tribromosalicylanilide).Each ingredient is selected to perform a specific function. Thecorrosion inhibitor protects the metals used in washing machines. Theanti-redeposition agent is used to aid in preventing removed soil fromredepositing on the fabric being washed. The suds stabilizer orsuppressor aids in tailoring the sudsing characteristics of the product.The optical brighteners aid in maintaining fabric whiteness orbrightness.

As to the soap which may be employed in the outer coating, there may beenumerated the water-soluble salts of myristic, palmitic, stearic,behenic, oleic, lauric, abietic, capric, caproic, ricinoleic, linoleic,hydrogenated and dehydrogenated abietic acids, the surface activehydrolysis products of tallow, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil,peanut oil, sesame, linseed oil, olive oil, corn oil, castor oil, andthe like.

Illustrative of the synthetic organic detergents useful in the presentinvention, there may be mentioned long chain alkyl aryl sulfonates suchas sodium octyl-, nonyl-, dodecyl-, decyland tetradecylbenzenesulfonates, N-long chain acyl N-alkyl taurates such as sodium oleoylmethyltaurate, sodium palmitoyl methyl taurate, sodium or potassiumlauroyl methyl taurate and the corresponding acyl ethyl taurates, longchain alkyl oxyethylene sulfates such as sodium or potassiumlaurylpolyoxyethylene sulfate, sodium laurylmonooxyethylene sulfate,sodium octadecylpolyoxyethylene sulfate and sodium cetyl polyoxyethylenesulfate, long chain alkyl aryl oxyethylene sulfates such as ammonium,sodium or potassium nonyl-, octyl-, and tridecylphenol monoandpolyoxyethylene sulfates, long chain alkyl sulfates such as sodiumlauryland stearylsulfates, long chain alkyl isethionates such as sodiumoleic isethionate, sodium lauric isethionate, sodium diisopropylnaphthalene sulfonate, sodium isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodiumisobutyland diisobutyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium isohexyl enzenesulfonate,

monobutyl biphenyl sodium monosulfonate, monobutylphenylphenol sodiummonosulfonate, dibutylphenylphenol sodium disulfonate, lower alkylsulfates and sulfonates such as sodium sulfate derivative of 2-ethylhexanol-l, sodium 2-ethyl-l-hexenyl sulfonate, sodium isooctylsulfonate, sodium isononyl (also triisopropylene) sulfonate, lower alkylesters of aliphatic sulfocarboxylic acids such as sodium diamylsulfosuccinate, sodium diisobutyl sulfosuccinate, sodium dihexylsulfosuccinate, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, sodium triamylsulfotricarballylate, sodium triisobutyl sulfotricarballylate, andsodium tri-nbutyl sulfotricarballylate.

While the foregoing sodium salts of the above detergents are preferred,other alkali metal and amine salts may be employed, as, for example,those with potassium, ammonium, lower alkyl amines such as methylamine,ethylamine, propylamine and isopropylamine, lower alkylolamines such asmono, di-, and triethanoland isopropanolamines, cyclic amines such ascyclohexylamine, morpholine, and pyrrolidine and the like.

The above-mentioned detergents may be used alone or may be employed asmixtures. Additionally the detergents can be used in combination withthe water-soluble soaps and water conditioners. The term waterconditioner as used in the present specification and claims designatesthose compounds which sequester, or inactivate water hardness and aid incleaning, and the term is fully intended to include both the inorganicand organic complexing agents, sequestering agents and chelating agents.Referring first to the organic type of chelating and sequesteringagents, the ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid type and its salts areamong the most effective. While these foregoing materials are preferred,there are numerous other types of organic products offered and referencemay be had to the book Chemistry of the Metal Chelating Compounds, byMartell and Calvin, for many further examples. Illustrative of theinorganic water conditiofiers useful in the present invention are thezeolites (hydrated silicates of aluminum and either sodium or calcium orboth), sodium carbonate, sodium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate,sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate,sodium hexametaphosphate, and sodium tetraphosphate. While the sodiumsalts of the inorganic compounds are preferred, the other alkali metalsalts such as the potassium and lithium salts may be used.

When any of the soaps or synthetic organic detergents are used alone orin combination and when the water conditioners are used in combinationwith the soaps and synthetic detergents, it will be found that no otherbinder material is necessary. However, due to their crystalline nature,when a water conditioner is used alone as the outer coating it ispreferred that a binder is used so as to give structural strength to thecoating.

Thus, the outer coating of the present invention can consist of each ofthe fabric washing agents alone or in combination with the variousadditives. The following examples are given to illustrate some of theinnumerable combinations which may be used to produce coatingsapplicable to the present invention:

1 Soap Synthetic organic detergent III Water conditioner 1V SoapSynthetic organic detergent V Soap Water conditioner 6 VI XV Syntheticorganic detergent Percent Water conditioner Granular soap 5 v11 Borax23.7 s 5 Trisodium phosphate Synthetic organic detergent TwjasodmfnPymphosphate 10 water conditioner Optical bnghtener 0.1 m Perfume 0.2Soap Water 1.0 Optical brightener 10 XVI Perfume Borax 20 Trisodiumphosphate 30 Water conditioner Tetrasodiugl pyrophosphate 30 Opticalbrightener 15 ff Anti-redeposition agent sodPlm metaslhcate 10 BinderSodium bicarbonate 5.0 Gum arabic binder 4.7 Synthetic organic detergentPerfume Suds stabilizer XVII gg gg g Sodium bicarbonate 5.0 'l'risodiumphosphate colormg 'letrasodium pyrophosphate 3O Soa 25 Borax I 20 wagconditioner mfiataslhcate 15 Corrosion inhibitor gg fi gggfi tAnti-redeposition agent Starch binder Optical brightener Perfume Perfume80 XVIII Synthetic organic detergent Granular soap 65 Water conditionerTetrasodium pyrophosphate 10 Suds suppressor Borax 24.4 Corrosion inhibtor Optical brightener 0.2 Anti-redeposition agent P rf 0 2 gpti al rigr Trichlorosalicylanilide 0.2

o oring Perfume 4 XIX The following examples, in which parts are byweight, 0 Sodmm lauryl sulfate 20 are illustrative of specific outercoatings applicable to the Borax 6 invention. The examples are in no wayintended to limit carboxylPethyl cellulose the present invention and aregiven only for illustrative Teuzawdmm Pymphosphate 16 purposes.SOdlllIIl sulfate 55 X111 Optical brightener 0.1 PercentTribromosilicylanilide 0.2 Monobutylphenylphenol sodium monosulfonate 12Perfume 0 3 Sodium tripolyphosphate 45 Anhydrous m 5 The optical orfluorescent bl'lghI1'1l:S mentioned precarboxymethyl cellulose 2 vlouslyand referred to in the foregoing examples are Optical brightens; 1colorless dyes developed for brightening and whitening Sodium lf t 5fabrics. More than seventy different fluorescent bright- P f 0'2 enersare listed in the Color Index. Representative of the XIV chemical typesencountered are: Sodium alkylwazyl sulfonate 25 (1) H H N Carboxymethylcellulose 1.7 l I Tetrasodiurn pyrophosphate 16 Q G Sodium sulfate 55Optical brightener 0.1 H N Perfume 0.2 Water 2.0

EN NH .N N=K N HN CH=CH NH N M Q G H NH SO;Na s0,Na NH (3) Nao,s SO NaCH;O 'CONH s NHCO-QOCH: 0 O

H CH1CHIOH CHQO EN CW CW Any of the fabric optical brighteners may beused alone or in combination as desired.

There are innumerable other combinations of ingredients, well known tothose skilled in the soap and detergent art, which could be used as theouter coating of the present invention and it would be unnecessarilyredundant to repeat the same here. Any of the outer coatings can be usedto enclose any of the dry solid bleaches. In the preferred embodiment ofour invention we use a substantially dry outer coating, since this typeof coating is more stable and in the instances where the inner corecomprises a chlorine containing bleach this type of coating offerssuperior protection to the bleach and prevents loss of availablechlorine on standing.

As stated previously, it is only necessary to the present invention thatthe outer coating comprise at least one of the fabric washing agents,namely, soap, synthetic organic detergent or water conditioner. Thevarious additives can be added according to the discretion of theformulator.

The inner core of bleach and the outer coating are preferably combinedin amounts of from about 1:1 to about 1:5 bleach to outer coating.However, the amounts of bleach to coating are immaterial to the presentinvention and may be varied according to the desires of the formulator,it only being important to the present composition that the core consistessentially of a bleach and the outer coating is contiguous therewithand completely encloses the core.

The present compositions can betprepared by first compacting a bleachmaterial and then encapsulating the compacted bleach with a coating. Ifdesired, the outer coating can be preformed in two separate halves, eachhaving OCH;

OCH;

a cavity therein, the bleach can be compressed to the desired shape andthen deposited in the cavity formed in one half of the coating and theother half of the preformed coating can then be pressed on top, forminga finished composition having a core of bleach and a coating contiguoustherewith and completely enclosing the same. Another method of makingthe present compositions is to form one half of the coating with acavity, fill the cavity with bleach powder, put the rest of the coatingmaterial on top and then press the entire mass to the desired shape. Itis immaterial to the present invention what method is used to form thepresent composition as long as the finished product comprises an innercore consisting essentially of bleach and having an outer coatingcontiguous therewith and completely enclosing the core.

The rates of solution of the two components can be varied, if desired,by altering the degree of pressure used in forming the finished product,or, if desired, by altering the basic composition of the outer coating.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention:

1. A substantially dry, stable, multifunctional Washing and bleachinglaundry tablet for sequential introduction of, firstly, effectiveamounts of fabric washing agents and laundry additives and, secondly,effective amounts of bleach into a laundry washing solution, whichtablet consists of (l) a solid, substantially dry, water-soluble coreand (2) a solid, substantially dry, water-soluble coating contiguouswith and completely enclosing said core, said core consistingessentially of a bleach selected from the class consisting of oxygen andchlorine water-soluble solid bleaches, and said coating consistingessentially of at least one water-soluble fabric washing agent selectedfrom the class consisting of soaps, non-soap synthetic organicdetergents, organic sequestering agents, and inorganic water softeners,said coating being formulated and present in an amount such that whensaid tablet is exposed to said laundry solution said coating requires aminimum period of time within the range of from about one to about fiveminutes to substantially completely dissolve, the inner core remainingintact until the outer coating has dissolved, whereby exposure andintroduction of said bleach into said laundry washing solution isdelayed for at least said minimum period of time, and said bleach isintroduced into the laundry washing solution with freedom from localheavy concentration for affording maximum effectiveness of saidlaundering agents and maximum safety for the articles to be laundered.

2. A substantially dry, stable, multifunctional washing and bleachinglaundry tablet for sequential introduction of, firstly, effectiveamounts of fabric washing agents and laundry additives, and, secondly,effective amounts of bleach into a laundry washing solution, whichtablet consist of (l) a solid, substantially dry, water-soluble core and(2) a solid, substantially dry, water-soluble coating contiguous withand completely enclosing said core, said core consisting essentially ofa bleach selected from the class consisting of oxygen and chlorinewater-soluble solid bleaches, and said coating being essentiallycomposed of a major amount of at least one water-soluble fabric washingagent selected from the class consisting of soaps, nonsoap syntheticorganic detergents, organic sequestering agents, and inorganic watersofteners, and a minor amount of at least one laundry additive thelaundering function of which in said laundry washing solution would beadversely affected by the substantially simultaneous introduction ofsaid bleach, said coatingjgeing formulated and p nti ta lrlsushfiaiihegsa d table p Fos'fid laundry solution saidgqatingrequires aminimum period of time within the gauge of from about on't'o'aboiit 10.fififil lfiiwi lfi i l lbi mp fi91)! dissolve tbs inner core remainingintact until the outer coating has dissolved, whereby exposure andintroduction of said bleach into said laundry washing solution isdelayed for at least said minimum period of time, and said bleach isintroduced into the laundry washing solution with freedom from localheavy concentration for affording maximum effectiveness of saidlaundering agents and maximum safety for the articles to be laundered.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said core contains achlorine-containing bleach and said coating contains a fabric opticalbrightener.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 871,612 11/07Nesfield 252l87XR 1,810,664 6/31 Kritchevsky et al 252188 1,854,235 4/32Stoddard 252 93 1,950,956 3/34 Wilhelm 252 -187 1,950,957 3/34 Wilhelm252l87XR 2,409,718 10/46 Snell et al 25299 2,576,205 11/51 Appersou25299 2,740,689 4/56 Easton et a1. 252186XR 2,863,800 12/58 Gottfried252363.5XR 2,903,430 9/59 Butler 25299 2,977,314 3/61 Stephanou et al25299 2,979,936 4/ 61 Houser et a1 68-17XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,074,188 1/Germany.

JULIUS GREENWALD, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY DRY, STABLE, MULTIFUNCTIONAL WASHING AND BLEACHINGLAUNDRY TABLET FOR SEQUENTIAL INTRODUCTION OF, FIRSTLY, EFFECTIVEAMOUNTS OF FABRIC WASHING AGENTS AND LAUNDRY ADDITIVES AND, SECONDLY,EFFECTIVE AMOUNTS OF BLEACH INTO A LAUNDRY WASHING SOLUTION, WHICHTABLET CONSISTS OF (1) A SOLID, SUBSTANTIALLY DRY, WATER-SOLUBLE COREAND (2) A SOLID, SUBSTANTIALLY DRY, WATER-SOLUBLE COATING CONTIGUOUSWITH AND COMPLETELY ENCLOSING SAID CORE, SAID CORE CONSISTINGESSENTIALLY OF A BLEACH SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF OXYGEN ANDCHLORINE WATER-SOLUBLE SOLID BLEACHES, AND SAID COATING CONSISTINGESSENTIALLY OF AT LEAST ONE WATER-SOLUBLE FABRIC WASHING AGENT SELECTEDFROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF SOAPS, NON-SOAP SYNTHETIC ORGANICDETERGENTS, ORGANIC SEQUESTERING AGENTS, AND INORGANIC WATER SOFTENERS,SAID COATING BEING FORMULATED AND PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT SUCH THAT WHENSAID TABLET IS EXPOSED TO SAID LAUNDRY SOLUTION SAID COATING REQUIRES AMINIMUM PERIOD OF TIME WITHIN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT ONE TO ABOUT FIVEMINUTES TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY DISSOLVE, THE INNER CORE REMAININGINTACT UNTIL THE OUTER COATING HAS DISSOLVED, WHEREBY EXPOSURE ANDINTRODUCTION OF SAID BLEACH INTO SAID LAUNDRY WASHING SOLUTION ISDELAYED FOR AT LEAST SAID MINIMUM PERIOD OF TIME, AND SAID BLEACH ISINTRODUCED INTO THE LAUNDRY WASHING SOLUTION WITH FREEDOM FROM LOCALHEAVY CONCENTRATION FOR AFFORDING MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS OF SAIDLAUNDERING AGENTS AND MAXIMUM SAFETY FOR THE ARTICLES TO BE LAUNDERED.